Well, it’s a full year now since we completed on our Oxley Woods eco house, and it’s been nothing if not eventful!
It was 10 days into our ownership, before we moved in, that leaks were first discovered on walls scattered about the house, and I’m writing this from an office with tide marks above the windows, next to a living room with one wall completely pulled apart as George Wimpey and Wood Newton between them still struggle to get a grip on the situation.
Other than the painful, continuing debacle of the the leako-home eco home the year has been pretty interesting. Our eldest Son moved into a local school and has coped incredibly well coming from an absolutely tiny little village school. Our daughter has gone from babe in arms to toddler trying to talk, and our cat is still as loopy as ever!
It’s been fascinating watching the estate as a whole develop and learning about the area. I’ve lived in Milton Keynes most of my life, but never on this side of town, and it’s surprisingly green and open. But that can actually be said for most parts of Milton Keynes, there’s a natural surprise around the corner in most estates.
On a personal note I’ve enjoyed watching the development here grow and seeing different people moving in, young families, retired couples, people just starting out… there’s a really good mix and I like that, reminds me of the street I spent most my time growing up in and it lead to a really nice atmosphere. Hope that happens here too.
It’s been interesting watching people shape their little front gardens as people tear up, re-arrange, or tend to the original planting that George Wimpey supplied. For our part we’ve planted a few bits of corn out the front, along with peppers, tomatoes, strawberries up on a balcony and my personal favourite, blueberries, in the back. We’ll be growing more of our own for sure when we can afford to reorganise the back garden. At the moment it’s all lawn and patio, which suits the kids brilliantly really, but we’d like to grow more of our own food too.
As for the houses themselves, well the shortcomings are obvious to us, having suffered most of the more common issues and some completely bizarre ones too, but overall it’s shaping up great so far as I can see. The mixture of houses and different street scenes, although apparently not to RSHP’s liking, is pretty nice, very open, more so than most new developments in the area, lots of people comment it still feels like a holiday village, because it’s so bright and different to everything around.
Feeling better in general than I was last week, no idea why really, considering our house is slowly being pulled apart around our ears. Perhaps it’s the weather, or the fact we had a nice BBQ and I didn’t poison anyone.
Also considering sticking a forum on this site for locals to chat. Not sure how many locals spend any time here, and if they (you?) think it’s a good idea. But it might be nice.
One Comment
Can’t believe how positive your post sounds, when you’ve still not got any idea on what’s really wrong or when your house will be water tight… Although soon it’ll be NHBC’s problem to sort it!! Which I’m closer to than you, and I think you stole my repair men the other day, they were meant to be coming round to play around with my small leak and screw a few of the panels back on which seem to be peeling away from the house, I have noticed the same thing on a few house around here, not yours as your panels have been off so many times they haven’t had time to come loose, but anyone else living round here I suggest you look up, mostly seems to be the panels at the top that suffer.
Like you say though, the weather does help make everything look better, but I do think air-con would have been a good thing to install in these houses if a little un-eco friendly.
I’m up for joining the Oxley forum!, if it’s not too much hassle for you to set up, but thats probably because given the choice I’d do all my communication with the anonymity of the internet, talking/ socalising is over rated, can’t wait till I’m wealthy enough to become a recluse. But unless there is a few others interested it could only be me and you, so no offence against you but would probably be a bit boring.